Johnny Depp Says He Was Hollywood’s ‘Crash Test Dummy for MeToo,’ Says Friends ‘Did Me Dirty’

Actor Johnny Depp is speaking out again about the fallout from his legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, claiming that he was Hollywood’s “crash test dummy for MeToo” and accusing former industry allies of abandoning him to avoid backlash, as reported by Fox News.

In a recent interview with The Times, Depp reflected on the personal and professional toll the high-profile domestic abuse allegations had on his life, stating he was determined to fight until the end to clear his name.

Johnny Depp claims he was a ‘crash test dummy’ for MeToo movement https://t.co/dAUvOyGLR3

— Metro (@MetroUK) June 22, 2025

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“Look, it had gone far enough,” Depp said. “I knew I’d have to semi-eviscerate myself.”

The conflict between Depp and Heard began in 2016 following their separation, shortly after which Heard filed a domestic violence restraining order.

In 2018, she authored a Washington Post op-ed identifying herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. Although Depp’s name was not mentioned, his legal team argued the article defamed him by implication.

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The case culminated in a 2022 trial in Virginia, where both parties accused each other of physical and verbal abuse. Depp was awarded $10 million in damages, while the jury also awarded Heard $2 million in her countersuit.

As part of the final settlement, Heard agreed to pay Depp $1 million, which resolved all outstanding financial claims.

Reflecting on the experience, Depp described the industry’s reaction as a turning point.

“There are people, and I’m thinking of three, who did me dirty. Those people were at my kids’ parties. Throwing them in the air. And… the most frightening thing to them was making the right choice. I was pre-MeToo. I was like a crash test dummy for MeToo. It was before Harvey Weinstein. And I sponged it, took it all in. And so I wanted from the hundreds of people I’ve met in that industry to see who was playing it safe. Better go woke!”

Depp also expressed frustration at the suggestion that the allegations would simply fade. “Everyone was saying, ‘It’ll go away!’ But I can’t trust that… If I don’t try to represent the truth it will be like I’ve actually committed the acts I am accused of.”

Although the scandal resulted in a period where Hollywood executives “stopped calling,” Depp says he never viewed his recent return to film as a “comeback.” “I didn’t go anywhere… Maybe people stopped calling out of whatever their fear was at the time.”

Despite his re-emergence in the film world, including a Cannes appearance promoting Day Drinker, Depp maintains a quiet personal life. “To this day I just rarely go out… My presence will bring attention… I can be isolated and happier than a clam.”

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